Girls’ volleyball: Oaks Christian striving to match their Spring counterparts

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I wouldn’t call it jealously, but the Oaks Christian girls’ volleyball team has definitely noticed what the school’s boys’ team has accomplished the last three years.

‘Obviously, the boys’ program has had a lot of success and I think they want a piece of that,’ Oaks Christian girls’ and boys’ volleyball Coach George Hees said, referring to three consecutive Southern Section divisional titles his boys’ teams have won. ‘The desire to win and get to that level is certainly there.’

The talent is there, too.

Middle blocker Shannon Armstrong leads the team in blocks (46) and fellow MB Bridget Boskovich also has played a critical defensive role. But the biggest surprise of the season on the personnel side has to be freshman outside hitter Tara Robinson, who leads the team in kills (215).

‘We don’t really have a weak point,’ Hees said. ‘We have a lot of talented players, but it’s not just one person. It’s been a total team effort.’

So, heading into Tuesday’s showdown with rival Oak Park to finish off the first half of Tri-Valley League play, the Lions, ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section’s Division III-AA poll, are my pick to claim their first divisional title. Their 3-1 victory over a tough La Reina team a couple of weeks ago proved the Lions are ready for a bigger challenge which they probably won’t find until the postseason.

As long as the Lions don’t underestimate their opponents, lets just say we won’t have to wait until May to see Oaks Christian take a fourth divisional volleyball title.

- Austin Knoblauch